Teachers in Tharaka Nithi county are set to go on strike on Monday if the government fails to fulfill all their demands in totality.
Meru South KNUT branch Executive Secretary Njeru Mutani said they have finalised all plans for the industrial action as per the constitution.
Speaking to the media in Chuka town today, Mutani said teachers have no other alternative apart from the strike unless the government meets their demands in full.
“We are warming up for the strike. The strike will go on unless the government implements in total all our demands. Plans for the industrial action are complete. We have followed the law to the letter. No teacher will be victimized,” said Mutani.
He squarely blamed the TSC for failing to adequately advise the government on their grievances leading to the current unfortunate standoff.
He however regretted that the strike will adversely affect the learners especially in covering the syllabus, revision and the national examination slated at the end of the third term.
“We plan to recover the wasted time by maximising our production, teaching extra time during the morning and evening hours and giving extra homework to the students.I urge the government to make education a priority during the budget making process. It should work positively with all the education stakeholders including the unions and always be sincere,” said Mutani.
He assured teachers that nobody will be victimized due to the industrial action because they had fully followed the law.
He called on teachers to keep off from school on Monday when the schools reopen and cautioned parents against taking their children to school until advised otherwise.
Among the demands teachers want met before resuming work includes the full implementation of the 2nd phase of CBA 2021-2025, conversion of 46,000 interns to permanent and pensionable employees and employment of new 20,000 new teachers.
They also want promotion of over 130,000 teachers, immediate release of third party deductions, remit capitation for medical insurance for better health services, payment of retired officers forthwith and commencement of 2025-2029 CBA.
